Having grown up in Jefferson Hills, I have been to Al's Cone Zone more times than I can remember…read more It is a classic, reasonably priced establishment that is beloved by locals and visitors alike.
Al's is located on State Route 885 in Jefferson Hills, just to the right of the entrance to 885 Park and Baseball Fields. The building is a bright blue, and covered with fun paintings of ice cream and other items they sell. So, you definitely will not miss it. It is a seasonal operation that usually runs from sometime in March to sometime in October.
There is a ton of parking here. You will find some spots in front of the windows. Due to no fault of Al's, I personally find these a little difficult to get in and out of, just with the nature of 885 as a road. To the right of the building, there is a large parking lot, with spaces much easier to get in and out of. Al's purchased this parcel a few years ago, and made it into an expanded lot. There is a walkway leading to the building right from this lot.
This visit in particular was this past September. I was in the area eating dinner, so I decided to stop by Al's for dessert on the way back. I arrived around 8:50 PM, and they closed at 9:00, so naturally there was not much of a wait at this time.
The store is a classic outdoor ice cream stand. Meaning that you walk up and order at the windows, and there is no indoor seating. However, there are plenty of benches and picnic tables on either side of the building. Depending on the time of day that you visit, these might be full, so next best thing would be to tailgate at your car!
I have tried a large amount of the menu here over the years, and there are a lot of great items. The Tornadoes are huge, and there are so many toppings available to mix in. Cones and dishes are gigantic, regardless of the size. I like the Ice Cream Sandwiches, particularly the ones with either the Chocolate Chip Cookie or the Peanut Butter Cookie. Milkshakes are tasty as well. In the fall, they will have Pumpkin Ice Cream, and tend to have other specials throughout the spring and summer. I have personally never tried the food items, but I imagine they are good!
On this visit, I kept it rather simple with a Small Vanilla Cake Cone with Cherry Dip. As I said, the cones are very generous, so I normally stick to a small size. This one was a little porous and uniquely shaped, but that does not matter so long as it tastes good. It definitely did!
The person who waited on me was friendly and quick. I understand it can be annoying to have customers so close to closing time, but I appreciated their demeanor and service on this day.
The value here is pretty great. Most of the items are soft-serve, so naturally it will be less than hand-scooped ice cream. My cone was under $5, and that included getting the add-on of dip. Al's has always been a crazy good value, and I believe they still are. In the past few years, they also started to take cards. So, no reason not to stop by!
Some bonus aspects of Al's are that they will give you a free Pup Cup with your purchase. My dog loves ice cream, so I take advantage of this often. Also, they offer a Punch Card if you ask for one when placing your order. So, if you buy 10 items, you will get one free once you present the card.
I have always been a fan of Al's, and now try to stop by whenever I can. I do not live as close anymore, but it is still worth it to come by every once in a while for some delicious treats. The owner is very kind, as well as all of the staff. The product is good, and there really is something for everyone here. Plus, the atmosphere and overall value really bring it over the top. If you find yourself in the Jefferson Hills/Clairton/West Mifflin area anytime soon, make sure to stop by Al's!
